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Limit on the Fierz interference term β [beta] from a measurement of the beta asymmetry in neutron decay

In the standard model of particle physics, the weak interaction is described by vector and axial-vector couplings only. Nonzero scalar or tensor interactions would imply an additional contribution to the differential decay rate of the neutron, the Fierz interference term. We derive a limit on this h...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Saul, Heiko (Author) , Roick, Christoph (Author) , Abele, Hartmut (Author) , Mest, Holger (Author) , Klopf, M. (Author) , Petukhov, A. K. (Author) , Soldner, Torsten (Author) , Wang, X. (Author) , Werder, Dominik (Author) , Märkisch, Bastian (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 9 September 2020
In: Physical review letters
Year: 2020, Volume: 125, Issue: 11
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.112501
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.112501
Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.112501
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Author Notes:H. Saul, C. Roick, H. Abele, H. Mest, M. Klopf, A. K. Petukhov, T. Soldner, X. Wang, D. Werder, B. Märkisch
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Summary:In the standard model of particle physics, the weak interaction is described by vector and axial-vector couplings only. Nonzero scalar or tensor interactions would imply an additional contribution to the differential decay rate of the neutron, the Fierz interference term. We derive a limit on this hypothetical term from a measurement using spin-polarized neutrons. This method is statistically less sensitive than the determination from the spectral shape but features much cleaner systematics. We obtain a limit of b=0.017(21) at 68.27% C.L., improving the previous best limit from neutron decay by a factor of four.
Item Description:Gesehen am 10.11.2020
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1079-7114
DOI:10.1103/PhysRevLett.125.112501

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